The Wednesday Walk 22nd April 2015

As your blogmaster is absent, this week's blog is a little shorter. But thanks are due to Diane for keeping us informed. And thanks also to Trudy for the photographs.

Walk around Ringstead

Parked at top usual place.Beautiful breezy sunny day ideal. Down the lane to the refurbished Church. Note new cross.Followed coastal path to The Smugglers.

The Pub. Work in progress around stream area meant restricted seating outside. Eat inside. Menu a little restricted, but everyone reasonably happy with their choice. Pie eater would have been well pleased.

After lunch we returned on the coastal path until we reached the beach cafe. Here we left two of the group the remaining 5 struggled onward and upward to the summit. I'm sure we all felt like we were climbing Everest!!.Trudy picked up Sue and Wendy from the beach cafe and we all met back at Sue's for a most welcoming CLOTTED CREAM TEA thanks to Trisha. Thanks to  Sue for the lovely table setting Royal Albert China no less.

Plan Next week. Meet at Tony and Beatrice 10.00 am for a Bluebell walk at 

Woodlands.

The Wednesday Walk 15th April 2015

The Plan

A Swanage walk

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Trisha, Sue, Tony H, Jackie, Diane and Tony R, David

The Walk

What glorious weather. It could be mid-summer in the Med, but it isn’t. It’s wall-to-wall sunshine in glorious Dorset.

We began by parking at the top end of Durlston Road. We then walked on through the woods to the castle, taking in the spectacular view of the sunshine-baked coast along the way. Never mind the birds and flowers (we did see and hear a woodpecker in the woods) we were there to enjoy the walk and the natural scenery. Something went awry at the castle as we became unintentionally split into two groups. Both groups walked on towards the lighthouse before returning to the castle and then down the steep grassy route to the shore. We met up again near the bottom of the hill.

After lunch we took the steep climb back to the cars at an easy pace. The heat and the climb both took their toll.

We finished off with tea and applecake at Sue’s. Also a chance to rest our feet before the journey home. Many thanks, Sue.
Finally, those glorious photographs are courtesy of Diane who took them with a camera that was causing problems. Well done, Diane.

The Pub

The Ship. It’s a bit basic, but the food was wholesome and filling.

The Wednesday Walk 8th April 2015

The Plan

An Upton Heath walk

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Trisha, Sue, Tony and Beatrice, David, Diane and Tony (welcome back from Spain, guys).

The Walk

What a gloriously sunny day. We had to lay on such weather, of course, to show Diane and Tony that the sun does still shine back at home. Instead of using the Upton Park car park (as we have on previous walks) we left our cars in Creekmoor. We then crossed back over the main road, and then over the stile into Upton Woods. A short walk took us to the bridge across the dual carriageway and we were then on Upton Heath. This is an area of sand and scrubland, with some trees removed in order to turn it back to the way it once looked in the dim and distant past. We ambled on across the heath in the sun until we got to Beacon Hill Lane. That took us down to the main road and the pub.

After lunch we lost Wendy who was the only one with a detailed knowledge of the route back. Nevertheless, we set out with the utmost confidence. We might occasionally be temporarily unsure of our position but we are never lost! Once in the middle of the heath we took a detour with no clear idea where it would lead us, but we were not easily put off. Eventually we reached the end of the footpath and found ourselves in squelchy boggy ground. Two walkers turned back and took the easy path back to the cars. The other intrepid walkers carried on across the bog and actually got back to the cars first. Well done, guys.

Our thanks go to Diane for the photographs.

The Pub

The Holme Bush on the Old Wareham Road. The pie eater had a lamb pie which was a bit over-cooked. The other had a variety of meals which seemed to be satisfactory.

Next Week

Meet at Sue’s at 10am for a Swanage walk

The Wednesday Walk 1st April 2015

The Plan

A Longham walk

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Beatrice and Tony H, David

The Walk

It’s the first day of April and I was tempted to tell you about our hundred-mile hike across the Himalayas, but who would believe me. So, what did we actually do? The forecast was for dry sunny weather in the morning and rain in the afternoon, so we decided to have a morning walk only. We met at Haskins Garden Centre for a cup of coffee and then positioned our cars at the lay-by near the Angel. The walk – along the usual route – to Longham was quiet and pleasant.

Tony had pre-positioned his car at the Bridge House. After lunch he took us back to where the other cars were parked. It had been a pleasant morning walk and lunch, and we thought we’d avoided the rain. But it didn’t rain. That Kirkwood girl got it wrong again.

The Lunch

The Bridge House Hotel at Longham. We all opted for the carvery and enjoyed full plates. As always, it was value for money.

Next Week

The meeting place: the car park at the entrance to Upton Park

The time: 1045